Police across Australia will gather on Thursday 29 September to pay tribute to fallen colleagues as part of National Police Remembrance Day.
For the first time since 2019, Victoria Police employees, family, friends, and the community will gather in person to honour the sacrifice of police who have died in the line of duty.
At this year's service, Senior Constable Bria Joyce will be honoured with a plaque dedicated to her memory on the Victoria Police Memorial Wall on St Kilda Road.
On Friday, 8 April 2022, Senior Constable Joyce lost her life when the police vehicle she and Leading Senior Constable Thomas Kinnane were in was involved in a collision near Mildura, where she was working as a member of the local highway patrol and undertaking regular duties. Leading Senior Constable Kinnane continues to recover from his serious injuries.
Senior Constable Joyce will be the 175th name added to the Victoria Police Memorial Wall, and she has been posthumously awarded the National Police Service Medal, the National Medal, the Victoria Police Star and the Victoria Police Service Medal.
Senior Constable Joyce's legacy will be honoured during the service, which will see a return of the commemorative march along St Kilda Rd at 10am, followed by a formal service at the Victoria Police Memorial.
The service will also honour the contribution and dedication of 12 Victoria Police officers, protective services officers, police custody officers and Victorian public servants who have died over the last 12 months through illness or other circumstances.
A number of regional services will be held across the state, including at Bairnsdale, Bannockburn, Geelong, Hamilton, Korumburra, Mildura, Shepparton, Warrnambool, Westgate and Wodonga - details for these services are available on the Victoria Police website.
National Police Remembrance Day coincides with Blue Ribbon Day, an initiative of the Blue Ribbon Foundation which raises money for new facilities and equipment at emergency departments named in memory of fallen officers in Victoria's public hospitals.
For more information about National Police Remembrance Day, please visit: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/national-police-remembrance-day-and-memor…External Link
Quotes attributable to Chief Commissioner Shane Patton
"Every year on National Police Remembrance Day, we pause to reflect and remember our brave colleagues who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
"National Police Remembrance Day is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by thousands of men and women who wear the police uniform to serve and protect the community every day, and we honour those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
